View story at masslive.com
By Ryan Mancini
Worcester residents have until the end of March to visit the Mercantile Center testing site for free COVID-19 tests.
UMass Memorial Health announced on Friday that the Massachusetts Department of Public Health will close all “Stop the Spread” testing sites, according to a brief statement. The 100 Front St. location next to CVS in Worcester will, along with other testing sites, close on March 31.
The closure is a result of “less demand for COVID-19 testing,” UMass said.
The Mercantile Center’s testing site will continue to offer free tests for individuals ages 6 months and older until March 30, UMass added. No appointment is required.
To find other nearby testing locations, go to the Executive Office of Health and Human Services “Find a COVID-19 Test” page and enter your zip code.
Worcester reported 110 new COVID-19 cases on Feb. 24, down from 160 the week before. The city has reported 66,938 total cases since the pandemic began.
Between December 2021 and January 2022, long lines could be seen around the Mercantile Center during a winter surge caused by the omicron variant. This prompted UMass Memorial Health President and CEO Dr. Eric Dickson to message the Core Management Team that “all hands on deck” were needed between Worcester and Marlborough’s testing sites, MassLive previously reported.
At one point in early January 2022, subzero temperatures caused the testing site to temporarily close, MassLive reported.